President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has called for a continued and thorough investigation into the chilling case of 34 missing sabungeros, three years after the first disappearance was reported.
The order comes as new allegations emerge, implicating several police officers in the abductions and murders of the cockfighting enthusiasts. One of the suspects, known only as “Totoy,” recently claimed that the victims were killed, tied to sandbags, and thrown into Taal Lake in Batangas to ensure their bodies would never resurface.
“Continue the investigation—a thorough investigation—to determine who is truly responsible and to hold those accountable,” said Palace press officer Undersecretary Claire Castro on Wednesday.
Castro also reaffirmed the administration’s faith in the country’s judicial system. “We believe in the integrity of our courts, and we trust that this will be resolved in accordance with the law and the rule of law,” she added.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier voiced alarm over the alleged reach of the case’s mastermind, who, according to Totoy, claims he has enough influence to sway even the highest court. “As for the so-called mastermind, in his [Totoy’s] own words, he claims he can handle it—even at the Supreme Court. That’s why we will talk to the Chief Justice about this,” Remulla told reporters.
The Philippine National Police said the series of disappearances took place between April 2021 and January 2022, largely involving victims suspected of cheating in e-sabong—an online betting platform that had been regulated by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation before being shut down.
Despite the years that have passed, families of the missing sabungeros continue to hope for justice.
